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UAE to set up international counter-terrorism centre

Move is currently being deliberated by Federal National Council; draft law being considered

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By Shane McGinley

Thu 09 May 2013 09:30 AM

The UAE has finalised moves to set up an international counter-terrorism centre, it was announced on Wednesday.

The Federal National Council's committee for foreign affairs has viewed a draft law for the setting up of the International Centre of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism (Hedaya), the WAM news agency said.

The head of the committee, Rashid Al Sharaiqi, said the bill had been referred to the house by the government for deliberation.

In its explanatory note, the government says it had set up Hedaya to honour a pledge it made during the Global Counter-terrorism Forum (GCTF) held in New York two years ago.

The WAM report said the centre will enjoy legal status and financial and administrative independence to perform its duties and achieve its goals.

According to Articles 10 to 13, the Abu Dhabi-based centre falls under the jurisdiction of UAE law and is not allowed to perform any acts that breach the laws of the UAE, contradict its interests or interfere in its internal affairs.

“Hedaya will establish a data base for sharing information with GCTF member states, build capacities, offer programmes to counter violent terrorism, conduct and assess relevant studies and research, organise workshops, training courses and lectures, coordinate and cooperate with the media and forge collaborative partnerships with both the public and private sectors,'' Al Sharaiqi added.